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Lucky Vega can return to winning ways in Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes

Thunder Moon ridden by jockey Declan McDonogh (left) wins the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes - PA
Thunder Moon ridden by jockey Declan McDonogh (left) wins the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes - PA

Lucky Vega, who had a nightmare trip when fifth in the National Stakes on his last start, can get back to winning ways for Jessica Harrington in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Middle Park often plays second fiddle to the Dewhurst in a fortnight’s time as the key British two-year-old race of the autumn but Saturday’s race looks a vintage one and in a season in which crowds have been absent, the return of Saturday’s winner should give racegoers something to look forward to when they start filling the grandstands again next spring.

Lucky Vega is already a Group One winner having sauntered away with the Phoenix Stakes by three and a half lengths from The Lir Jet but he was kept in gaol behind Thunder Moon in a messy National Stakes when, quite frankly, he did not have a race.

This is, nevertheless, a harder race than the Phoenix. Minzaal, who bids to continue a terrific season for Sheikh Hamdan and give Owen Burrows a first Group One, dispensed with a useful field in the Gimcrack with ease, as did Clive Cox’s Supremacy in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

Method has been kept on the back-burner since winning a Listed race at Newbury but is being treated like a potential star by Martyn Meade, while the Queen Tactical and The Lir Jet are both Royal Ascot winners.

In the fillies’ equivalent, the Juddmonte Cheveley Park, the experienced Happy Romance, who has developed a winning habit for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey, looks the one to beat.

She was not stretched to win a Group Three at Salisbury last time and, when added to two valuable sales races, in a season of prize-money cuts she has already won the thick end of £200,000; not bad for an initial outlay of £25,000.

Her two big rivals appear to be Miss Amulet, who beat Sacred a length in the Lowther Stakes at York but has since changed hands, and Dandalla, a runaway winner of the Albany at Royal Ascot. She was less impressive when scrambling home at Newmarket, but she had had a temperature 10 days before so may not have been at her very best.

Stradivarius to have French jockey for Arc
Stradivarius to have French jockey for Arc

Ralph Beckett, whose Antonia de Vega earned a quote of 10-1 for the Fillies and Mares on Champions Day after beating Alpinista in the Princess Royal Stakes on Friday, can win the Bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap, the first leg of the old autumn double, on Saturday with Lucander.

The three-year-old was the good winner of a competitive 15-runner handicap at York so the big field should hold no problem for him. A drop of rain will have done his chances no harm and he is from a stable in form.

Tempus, trained by Roger Charlton who has won it twice before with Blue Monday and Cap Jaluca so should have some idea of what is required, looks progressive and is the danger.

Kameko, the 2,000 Guineas winner, finally got his head back in front for the first time since when he won Friday’s Shadwell Joel Stakes. He made hard work of the middle part of the race and was the first off the bridle, but that may be him and he fought hard to beat Regal Reality and Benbatl.

“I don’t think there are many three-year-olds who could give weight to a horse like Benbatl,” said winning rider Oisin Murphy.

Andrew Balding is keen to go to Ascot for the QEII now. “I don’t think we’ve had a fair crack of the whip with him this season,” he said. “There’s no doubt he’s a miler and that was a real good effort.”

Clive Cox hopes to return to Newmarket for the 1,000 Guineas next spring with Isabella Giles after she won the Shadwell Rockfell Stakes by two lengths.